By: Donnie Hue Frazier III, Contributing Writer
Your gifts will not only “make room for you”, they will put you in rooms that you’ve only dreamed of. One morning I saw a post from Issa Rae promoting the American Black Film Festival, and I thought to myself how badly I wanted to be there. Was I willing to make the financial investment at that moment? Was it too late to figure out how to make it happen? Or did I need to just open myself up to my own desire of being present at this prestigious festival? A Black film festival that was under the creative direction of one of my biggest artistic inspirations. I chose the latter. The very next morning I received an email from the GLAAD Communities of Color and Media team with an invitation to be a GLAAD Ambassador at this year’s festival. An opportunity that was manifested as a way for me to partake in this once in a lifetime occasion. An invitation that I would accept every single time. I am officially a part of the cohort of Black artists and storytellers that GLAAD has cultivated through their Black Queer Creative Summit. The gift that keeps on giving.
Attending the American Black Film Festival, not only as an ambassador for GLAAD, but also as a multi-hyphenate filmmaker, was an experience that I will carry for the rest of my life. If you ask me, every Black filmmaker, entertainment, and media professional should consider attending ABFF at least once. My journey to ABFF 2024 was a testament to being open and surrendering to the flow of destiny. It is often said that what is meant for you will not miss you, and with all of the weather warnings, delays, and happenstance, so it was. Mentally, I am still there. The natural high that I got from being surrounded by people who are on a mission to tell stories was so potent that it felt nostalgic the moment the experience was over. Culturally, there was so much resonant energy in the majority of those spaces. As Black creatives, we often talk about thriving and producing with limited resources, familiar journeys of grinding, and just starting somewhere. I listened to Nia Long talk about mindfulness surrounding finances, mental health, and witnessed her certainty of who she is exude from her vessel into the mic for the crowd to feel. I watched Denzel Washington’s entire career play right before my eyes in the most emotional few minutes I felt in Miami, and it was a visual representation of longevity and an ode to our ancestors for having the wildest of dreams. What was equally as worthwhile were all of the nights and social hours that I spent at the HOORAE house surrounded by other dreamers, makers, and doers, who were all present with hopes of getting one step closer to doing more of what they love… and what I realized, is that we have always been and will always be Black, gifted, and talented.
I remember standing in a crowd at one of Issa Rae’s “A Sip” events in 2018, and asking “how do you balance being a multi-hyphenate and defying society’s desire to put you in a box.” Knowing that I am full of talent in many different areas of creativity led me to the production of my first film project. A project that prepared me for the challenge of executing my second project The Scent of Coffee: Prelude, the production of which was supported by GLAAD’s Black Queer Creative Summit Pitch Competition. The Scent of Coffee: Prelude was showcased at the GLAAD x ABFF: Queer Lens Brunch, where we gathered with pride to hear about the journeys and experiences of queer creatives of color.
The Scent of Coffee: Prelude Trailer, by Donnie Hue Frazier III.
Participating in this space and being able to not only highlight my work, but speak on a panel to an audience of fellow Black artists and creatives, was one of the major highlights of my experience. To be able to continue to develop and share my artistic voice with people directly across from me is a humbling experience that was carried beyond the walls of that room. I was approached by several people at other social events after the panel, who were inspired and encouraged by what I had to say. In addition, the publicity of snapshots from this occasion has reached many people in such an illuminating way, that other Black queer artists are able to see themselves authentically and in bloom on stages and in spaces created specifically for us and by us, no matter what stage in your career development you are currently at.
The warmth surrounding my heart from the impression of the entire ABFF experience is due mostly in part to the GLAAD Communities of Color and Media team. For the work, activation, and advocacy that they are committed to. A commitment for our people to thrive in all spaces when it comes to opportunities for us to project our narratives in our way. I left Miami with tearful eyes of gratitude thinking about how amazing it was to receive so much inspiration to continue to leave my own mark and legacy in this world through my art. I landed back at home in Los Angeles, with a deeper understanding of acknowledging my “gifts”, because I am learning that the more I desire and am willing to express, release, and provide my authenticity, purity, and uniqueness to the world through my gifts, the more room they will continue to make for me.